Will Chicago Fire's players and fans be celebrating after tonight's game against Houston Dynamo? Photograph: Brian Kersey/AP

3.35am GMT

Final thoughts

So the Fire become the first side to depart the playoffs after failing to arrest their recent slide in form. Houston meanwhile, did what they did last year and seemed to arrive in the playoffs with cool heads and very good game management - at least when their midfield was on the ball.

Houston's defense made a few questionable decisions when Chicago finally started pressing them, but by the time Oduro came on and started causing problems the Fire were already 2-0 down and despite Alex getting a late goal, it was too big an ask for this Fire side to recover. After getting caught cold at the start of the second half they only had themselves to blame, as Bruin plundered a second goal on the night. What a second year season he's had.

Up next for Houston, a fascinating test against Sporting Kansas City. Those two have previous...

Thanks for all your tweets and emails. Sorry I didn't get to use them all, but you can always write in again tomorrow, when I'll be following LA Galaxy vs Vancouver Whitecaps as the playoffs continue. For now, good night.

3.28am GMT

Final Score: Chicago 1 Houston 2

Peep! PEEP! PEEEEEEEEP!

And that's that. Chicago are out. Houston advance. Final thoughts in a minute...

3.27am GMT

90 mins +5

It's not a great free kick but it's only cleared to Rolfe in space on the edge of the box. He chests the ball down for a shot, but only succeeds in firing it off his own man for a goal kick.

3.26am GMT

90 mins +4

Macdonald tries to flick a header through to Berry who's come forward, but it's safely to Hall.

Now Oduro goes past Davis on the right and picks up a free kick about ten yards from the corner of the box. Last chance. Johnson forward too...

3.24am GMT

90 mins +3

Boniek Garcia does some neat ball retention and eats up a few vital seconds. Chicago get it back. Maybe one more chance...

3.23am GMT

90 mins +2

Rolfe crosses the ball in from the left but can't clear the first man. Houston can't get it out of their third for a moment but eventually Segares' attempt to charge in behind the defense ends in a goal kick.

3.22am GMT

90 mins +1

Hall booked for time-wasting. He won't care. The ball is up in the Fire half, where Houston want it right now.

Updated at 4.50pm GMT

3.22am GMT

90 mins

Oduro powers through on a miss-kicked clearance from Ashe, slides the ball to his left to tee up Alex, but this time the goalscorer matches Ashe's mistake with a miscue of his own. We'll have four minutes added on.

3.20am GMT

89 mins

Sarkodie down as the ball goes out for a throw. The crowd seem unimpressed at his discomfort and indeed he's up on his feet pretty quickly.

Long ball down the right for Oduro, but his attempted cross cannons back off the defender and then the striker to give Houston a goal kick.

Updated at 4.50pm GMT

3.18am GMT

87 mins

It's all direct balls from Chicago now, as they try to put the Houston backline under pressure and bypass their well-organized midfield.

Another loose ball is intercepted by Rolfe but his ball to MacDonald just evades his team mate, with him free on the right of the box.

3.16am GMT

85 mins

Another deft touch from Rolfe chips the ball over the top for MacDonald to chase. His run unnerves Hall enough that he only claims the through ball at the second attempt. The Chicago crowd beginning to pick up the volume again as their team press.

Updated at 4.50pm GMT

3.15am GMT

GOAL! CHICAGO 1 HOUSTON 2 (ALEX!)

Long ball from Friedrich starts a move that's finished with Alex sliding a narrow shot off the far post and in from the side of the box! Seven minutes for the Fire to tie this up!

Updated at 4.51pm GMT

3.14am GMT

82 mins

At the other end Austin Berry makes a far post run and almost connects perfectly with a header, but nothing is quite falling for Chicago right now. Less than 10 minutes for Houston to hold on to a 2-0 lead. Hang on though...

3.12am GMT

80 mins

Houston have a free kick they're in no hurry to take and when they do they start to push the ball back towards their own goal. But suddenly they have a great chance as the ball is knocked over the top by Ching for Kandji in space in the box — but as often happens when the young striker has time to think, he puts it straight at Johnson. Houston should have finished it there. Still Chicago 0 Houston 2

Updated at 4.52pm GMT

3.10am GMT

78 mins

Chicago start another surge forward that climaxes in an overlapping pass towards Nyarko that ends in a rough looking clash on a 50-50 ball.

Kandji comes on for Carr, Ching on for Bruin, as Houston switch out their strikers.

Updated at 4.52pm GMT

3.08am GMT

76 mins

Chicago have a free kick near the center line and it gives them time to sub on Paladini as they look to throw more offensive-minded bodies forward. The kick is cleared without fuss, and now Houston can grab a little respite with a moment's possession in the Chicago half.

3.06am GMT

74 mins

Friedrich, who's been one of the bright spots for Chicago tonight, gets up well to head clear from a teasing Davis cross and Chicago go up to the other end, where Oduro, who's looked dangerous since he came on, slides a ball across the six yard box that nobody can get on the end of. A minute later Alex tries his luck again - and this time he forces an acrobatic save from Hall. Chicago knocking on the door.

3.04am GMT

72 mins

Carr free on the left again, and he slips a simple pass through to Bruin, who falls over at the crucial moment.

At the other end Oduro seizes on a mistake and forces a corner. In the sequence that follows, for once it's Hall that flaps at a cross and the ball falls to MacDonald at the back post - but his point blank shot is blocked for another corner. Eventually Alex tries a shot from range that flies over and Chicago can breathe once more.

3.01am GMT

70 mins

Another warning for Chicago as Bruin makes a run over the top and slides the ball to the right, where Carr in turn slides his shot just past the post. A minute late Carr's in behind again and shoots straight at Johnson from a narrow angle. Houston could kill the game on the counter as Chicago commit. This has been a very good road performance so far. Still Chicago 0 Houston 2.

Updated at 4.53pm GMT

2.59am GMT

68 mins

Nyarko gets pulled down by Davis and the Houston man oicks u a yellow. From the freekick, near the center line, Chicago struggle to make a clear opening, and eventually commit a foul themselves in trying to force the issue.

2.58am GMT

66 mins

Rare slip in the Houston midfield forces a turnover, but when Fernandez finally gets a cross in, it's too high to be dangerous. Then a minute later, another mistake as an underhit back pass almost puts Hall in trouble, but he does enough to get the ball clear. Couple of nervous minutes for the Dynamo.

Updated at 4.53pm GMT

2.56am GMT

64 mins

That crowd staple of "ironic cheering" breaks out as Chicago get a decision. Game getting a little untidy right now - which will suit Houston fine. Less time they spend dealing with a late Chicago siege, the better for them.

2.54am GMT

62 mins

Oduro comes on for Pause. Immediately another decision goes against Chicago and the crowd join the players in grumbling. A minute later Oduro gets his first meaningful touch and almost makes room for a shot with a sharp one-two on the edge of the box, but Sarkodie does well to get across and block.

2.52am GMT

60 mins

Another stoppage as Sarkodie is down after clashing with Nyarko. It's Chicago's free kick though - on the corner of the box. It's headed clear but looped back in by Rolfe, to where Friedrich is still onside. He spins and shoots but it's straight at Hall. Decent touch by the veteran though.

Now Chicago's players are screaming at ref Toledo about a decision that didn't go their way. It's Chicago 0 Houston 2

2.49am GMT

58 mins

Houston trying to pass the ball around the back, as Chicago press up against them, but then Chicago's keeper puts them under pressure again as he kicks a back pass nervously and only to Carr - who can't get a shot on target.

2.47am GMT

56 mins

Corner just about dealt with, then Friedrich doggedly forces the ball back into the box, but no red shirt on the end of it.

Now Chicago revert to the long ball to try and release MacDonald, but the ball bounces safely into Hall's hands.

2.46am GMT

54 mins

As things stand Sporting Kansas City will be nodding to themselves resolutely at the prospect of meeting Houston again in the playoffs. They'll feel they have unfinished business. If you can't tell, I'm tempting fate to keep this one interesting. Alex seems to hear me and flashes a shot wide of the Dynamo goal, then Nyarko is one on one at a narrow angle before Sarkodie just gets back to deflect the ball for a corner - there's still life in this one.

Updated at 4.54pm GMT

2.43am GMT

52 mins

Camargo warming up as Clark continues to look groggy.

Fernandez gets forward and sends a neat flick through to Alex. The ball is eventually worked to Nyarko near the spot but his turn and shot is weak, and straight at Hall.

Houston counter and Carr and Bruin almost combine to cause more problems for Chicago, who obviously have to score the next goal now, but will be vulnerable to the Dynamo's counters.

Updated at 4.54pm GMT

2.41am GMT

50 mins

...corner is cleared and Boniek Garcia charges forward again down the left, but he can't get a final touch through to a team mate. Bad news for Houston as Ricardo Clark is still down after the corner. He's back on his feet and walking groggily off the field for treatment. Chicago 0 Houston 2

2.38am GMT

47 mins

Chicago have a corner as they try to recover. Alex on for Pause by the way...

2.38am GMT

GOAL! CHICAGO 0 HOUSTON 2 (BRUIN!)

Ricardo Clark charges down a ball out of defense, Calen Carr slips the ball through the defense and Bruin races through to slot the ball past Johnson. Chicago caught utterly cold!

2.37am GMT

PEEP!

We're off again.

2.36am GMT

More nerves

Ill winds

A quick note to all of you on the East Coast - hoping you're ok after the hurricane. It's of course a little surreal to be covering soccer at a time like this, but perhaps a little escapism is called for.

Soccer itself can't escape the effects of the hurricane though. New York and DC have switched stadiums for their scheduled Conference semi-final games, to give a battered Jersey infrastructure a little more time to recover. DC will now host on Saturday, while New York will host next Wednesday.

More tonsorial updates

He does indeed look like a man who would be at home handling a pistol and pastels in the same ensemble.

2.26am GMT

Half time thoughts

Well, it's been an absorbing half, with both sides trying to seize the initiative. In the opening minutes it looked like Chicago were getting some joy in behind on the outside right - and behind the defense still looks like an area where they might get something, if MacDonald's timing were a little better on springing the offside trap. Rolfe will continue to create opportunities and tonight would be a great time for Fernandez to match productivity to his flickers of creativity.

Houston though, have been impressive in managing the game on the road. They got the crucial first goal that leaves them with more choice when to go forward and which limits Chicago's preferred counter-attacking options. Davis has given Anibaba a torrid time down the left flank and Boniek Garcia is full of neat flicks and invention. It's poised nicely for the second half...

2.19am GMT

HALF TIME: CHICAGO 0 HOUSTON 1

Half time thoughts in a moment...

2.19am GMT

45 mins +1

Houston get a throw deep in Chicago territory after putting together another neat little passing sequence. As soon as it's taken the ref blows for half time.

2.18am GMT

45 mins

Once again, MacDonald is offside, as the Dynamo high line catches him out again. Houston push up the field slowly, glad to pass down the remainder of the half, if Chicago will let them. Then Ashe steps up into space and lofts a cross to the back post that Segares has to scramble to slide clear for a corner.

Davis sends it deep and finds Jermaine Taylor, but he's at too narrow an angle to get a header on target. One minute to be added on...

2.15am GMT

43 mins

Boniek Garcia suddenly bursts forward out of defense and dribbles forward to start a move that ends in a Houston corner. Great work by him with his side under pressure.

Yet another Houston free header at the near post - Bobby Boswell this time. It loops over, but that was a terrible amount of space for Chicago to concede in that situation.

2.13am GMT

40 mins

...poor corner cleared without fuss by Houston and they regain their shape as they push up. Rolfe pushes forward down the left and shows more smart invention to get round Sarkodie, but the defender is able to do enough to put Rolfe off his cross. Chicago press again, trying to pick the lock with the perfect final ball, but there's no shot at the end of it. Chicago 0 Houston 1

Updated at 4.55pm GMT

2.11am GMT

38 mins

The Fire have a dangerous free kick on the right of the box as Taylor goes in on Nyarko, who's running at speed down that vulnerable flank. What can they do with it?

Pardo sends it to the far post where Carr just gets it clear ahead of the overlapping attacker. Rolfe curls it back in but Hall is decisive in claiming the ball - in contrast to Johnson. Now Chicago have another corner...

2.09am GMT

36 mins

Jason (@SoDakJason)

@kidweil Am I the only person who thinks it's appropriate Baldomero Toledo should be the ref for a Halloween match?

34 mins

Pardo's chip forward just fails to clear the last men to set Nyarko clear and the ball is back with Houston. Friedrich decides to seize the initiative though and picks up the ball in defense and presses forward. When he passes through to MacDonald though, the Chicago striker is offside.

At the other end Ashe sends in a low cross that sees Carr race into space at the near post and attempt to flick goalward.

It doesn't go goalward.

Updated at 4.56pm GMT

2.04am GMT

32 mins

...a little sand wedge of a cross from Davis is headed clear gratefully by Berry and Chicago push up.

2.04am GMT

30 mins

So half an hour gone and it's still Chicago 0 Houston 1. Anibaba catches Davis late and Houston have a free kick wide left. It's cleared, but Davis is giving Anibaba a rough night already, even aside from the goal.

In the next sequence, the ball is crossed in for a climbing Carr to try and head. Again it's cleared, but yet again Davis sets up Anibaba to concede the fee kick to the left of the box...

2.01am GMT

28 mins

Friedrich tracks back well to put Bruin off his shot, from a wide angle.

A minute later another cheeky flick from Rolfe has to be cut out by the Houston defense. He definitely looks key to the Fire's hopes tonight.

The Fire fans in good voice still, by the way.

1.59am GMT

26 mins

So far, Chicago's best chances seem to be coming getting in behind the Dynamo on the Fire's right. Nyarko is just shy of a sharp through ball that splits the defense on that side, but they'll keep probing there.

Rolfe does some slaloming of his own, in a Boniek Garcia style, before slipping a beautiful short pass to set MacDonald clear, but he's gone too fast and is offside.

1.57am GMT

24 mins

Davis steps forward and hits a shot that's deflected for another corner on the opposite side to the one Houston scored from. His inswinger is punched clear by Johnson, a little awkwardly again. It's knocked back in but the eventual headed flick on is safely high of the bar.

1.55am GMT

22 mins

A teasing Nyarko cross from the byline lofts over Hall and has to be cleared from just in front of goal for a corner. Decent work by Nyarko. Hall punches the corner clear and Ricardo Clark forages forward. He has men tracking in support of him but goes alone and scoops his shot high and wide.

1.53am GMT

20 mins

Boniek Garcia does some tricky moves to retain possession in the Chicago half. He eventually lays the ball of to Ricardo Clark who can't quite link the ball to Davis. But now they have another little spell of possession to try and keep the Fire from building up any momentum. Still Chicago 0 Houston 1

Updated at 1.53am GMT

1.51am GMT

18 mins

The replay of the goal just showed again - very cruel on Anibaba, slipping at that crucial moment.

Chicago trying to build back into the game and now they have a free kick some 40 yards out. It's curled onto the head of Friedrich, who got his header on target but not with enough power to trouble Hall.

1.48am GMT

16 mins

Now Chicago have a corner curled in via Pardo that ricochets of Boswell and loops harmlessly to Hall.

David Nelson (@ivanomartin)

@kidweil The overlapping runs on Chicago's right side are more exquisite than Taylor Twellman's eyebrow sculpting.

GOAL! Chicago 0 Houston 1 (BRUIN!)

Bruin meets the corner from Davis with a header, as his marker, Anibaba, slips and just like that Houston are ahead!

Chicago don't concede many from set pieces and that was unlucky in the end, but they have a real ask now, having conceded the opener. They try to come back immediately but MacDonald's through ball towards Fernandez is overhit. Cool heads needed.

Updated at 1.47am GMT

1.44am GMT

12 mins

In a microcosm of his season at Chicago. Fernandez pulls Sarkodie this way and that in the Houston box to make space for a shot that he then scuffs. He'll get glimpses like that again in that match up, but needs to do better. Better from Chicago in attack, but now Carr battles his way to a corner at the other end, as the game begins to ebb and flow a little...

Updated at 4.57pm GMT

1.43am GMT

10 mins

From the restart Nyarko gallops down the right and earns a throw deep in Houston territory. It's thrown long and flicked on but Clark manages to clear. But Chicago push back and their defenders, who remained up from the long throw, get worked into the attack - which ends when one of them, Anibaba, curls a shot just wide of the post. Decent chance. Still Chicago 0 Houston 0 though.

Updated at 4.59pm GMT

1.41am GMT

8 mins

Carr, seeing that Johnson looks nervous, sends a shot in from outside the box that the young keeper scrambles to save - almost spilling a rebound to Bruin, who has followed in. Chicago clear, but Houston have found their feet in the last couple of minutes. They push up and Ricardo Clark tries to make space for a shot by, as it turns out, sending his defender sprawling. Free kick to Chicago.

Updated at 4.59pm GMT

1.39am GMT

6 mins

That'll be one of those Houston free kicks then. Carr pulled down some 40 yards out and Davis is over the ball. He sends it into a dangerous area in the box and taylor gets a head to it. Then Sean Johnson gets a poor first touch in the Chicago goal as he fails to claim the ball in two attempts at a reasonably easy catch. Nervous start for the keeper.

1.37am GMT

4 mins

Rolfe skips down the right to start a Chicago attack as they press early towards the loud Section 8 support. Houston force it out and clear though. Early warning from Rolfe however.

Houston loft the ball aimlessly forward and Chicago retrieve easily, then it happens again, with Bruin chasing, but not retrieving a hopeful punt forward.

Updated at 5.00pm GMT

1.35am GMT

2 mins

Chicago try to get players on the ball at the back early, as Houston rush to press them. Fernandez bundled off the ball, but then a poor giveaway by Davis almost lets Nyarko in - bad touch through is intercepted by Taylor though.

Updated at 5.01pm GMT

1.33am GMT

PEEP!

For one of these sides, their participation will end on the first day. Last huddles and...we're underway in the MLS 2012 playoffs!

Houston kick off in "a balmy 44 degrees" according to Adrian Healey.

Updated at 5.01pm GMT

1.31am GMT

Adverts

There's a product available that takes off bits of loose skin. I know this now.

OK. Next word you read is going to be "PEEP!"

1.26am GMT

Alexi Lalas has a beard

A wild one. I respect that.

Enough on that though as the teams are walking out of the tunnel....

1.24am GMT

Pre-game rituals

I'm about to perform my pre-game ritual of chasing a cat off the keyboard, grabbing a ginger ale and trying a solitary pathetic stretch in lieu of physical activity for the day. I'll be back in a minute as we count down to kick off which should be less than ten minutes away.

Though the thing about MLS listings is that they seem to follow a logic of their own. It's not like "OK! 3pm - PEEP!" More of a "Hey - 8.30 for 9 - bring a dessert..."

Now Landon Donovan is being interviewed by Julie Foudy.

Updated at 1.27am GMT

1.17am GMT

More nerves

Gillian Rosh emails:

"I'm even too nervous to follow your MBM."

I don't blame you Gillian - grammatical and layout infractions flying in everywhere. It could get ugly.

The ESPN team are interviewing Tom Sermanni, the newly appointed USWNT coach by the way - in case that calms your nerves.

I think the stop-Brad-Davis-stop-the-Dynamo theory has some credence, Jeremy, but it also depends on which Mac Kandji shows up.

12.54am GMT

Rookie of the year

A sidebar to the game will be the performance of young defender Austin Berry. I was at his full debut for the Fire against Chivas USA earlier this year, and while he had an eventful game (conceding a penalty, then scoring an equalizer a couple of minutes later), there wasn’t much to suggest he would go on to have such a breakthrough season. That said, interviewing him afterwards I was impressed by how unfazed he was by the occasion - only becoming modestly excited with the news his family had flown in for the occasion.

But when Arne Friedrich was out injured, rather than becoming unmoored without his more experienced counterpart, Berry grew in stature, and he and DC United’s Nick DeLeon are now neck and neck for MLS 2012 Rookie of the Year. For me, Berry’s consistency has shaded it, despite how quickly DeLeon has integrated himself into his team. Berry has been steady in an exposed position, and even chipped in with goals, for his side, while DeLeon has been more eye-catching at times, but disappeared a little after a bright start. Both would be worthy winners, but after Tim Ream missed out a couple of years back, I'd like to see a good young defender rewarded.

12.49am GMT

Houston Dynamo

Dominic Kinnear has a way of getting a side ready to peak at the play-offs. This year, he looked to have skipped a beat, as the Fire’s late season surge coincided with a late season stutter by Houston. They were still difficult to beat, but too many ties were creeping into the equation, as the Dynamo slowly began to lose traction in the playoff race. A 3-1 win over Philadelphia on the penultimate weekend was good, but only negated the 3-1 loss they’d suffered to the same opponents when the playoff contenders were beginning to shake out a month earlier.

Pluses: designated player Oscar Boniek Garcia has slotted tidily into the 4-3-3 when it’s employed and on his day is very hard for defenders to pick up (though the reluctance of Kandji to defend continually asks questions of a system designed in part to accommodate his undoubted pace and talent). Ricardo Clark is back with all his playoff experience, and Davis and his set pieces are still in the mix. Minuses: you can’t replace a Geoff Cameron (sold to Stoke City) just like that - and the defense has been an issue. Whether they win or not tonight will depend on large part on their midfield smothering Chicago’s and dominating possession. In an open game and a straight shootout, Chicago might well edge it.

On a broader note, having completed their beautiful BBVA Compass Stadium this Spring, and ridden the attendant home bounce to an unbeaten record there, Houston could have done without their further participation in the play-offs being contingent on victory on the road tonight. Still the prize for victory is that with two legged semi-finals and finals to come, Houston’s home form could yet be a significant factor in this competition - and of course they have the memory of what happened last year when they faced Philadelphia. Just like the Fire, the Union had lost momentum coming into the playoffs and the Dynamo duly eliminated them with a 2-1 victory at PPL Park followed by a routine 1-0 win at their old Robertson Stadium — sparking a run that took them all the way to the MLS Cup final.

12.45am GMT

Chicago Fire

The key to Chicago’s line up for this game may now reside in Holland. Heerenveen signed Marco Pappa from the Fire in the summer and then promptly benched the former Chicago star. Around his departure and to a lesser extent the sudden absence of playmaker Grazzini, came a risky overhaul by Frank Klopas that could easily have been a tinkering too far - just see Vancouver Whitecaps having to hastily get back to basics, after their own revolving door gathered speed then threatened to run out of control this summer. Instead, aside from the disappointing Alvaro Fernandez, Chicago developed a more multi-faceted and productive attack for much of the second half of the season. Fan favorite Chris Rolfe returned and was able to play a slightly unfamiliar role to great effect, ensuring that Grazinni, seemingly permanently exiled to Argentina, was not unduly missed. Playmaker is not what Rolfe really does, but in linking the midfield and attack and chipping in his share of goals (8), alongside new designated player, Sherjill Macdonald (4) he helped the Fire go on a run of 8 wins in 9 games, through August and September.

It was a run that was bookended by a draw in San Jose and a 2-0 road loss to Sporting Kansas City. The latter game - billed as a potential Eastern decider, seemed to knock the rampant Fire team off track. They lost next time out to Philadelphia, rallied to beat a New York side with problems of their own, then suffered another embarrassing loss in New England, before last weekend’s decisive and disappointing draw against DC.

Still, there’ve been signs that the defense, marshalled by German veteran Arne Friedrich and the blossoming talent of rookie Austin Berry, has settled again, and they’ll be tough for Houston to break down. Here’s what happened when the sides last met, during that run by the Fire in the Fall.

Preamble

Welcome to the first of the wild-card games that will narrow the field for MLS Cup - as Chicago Fire host Houston Dynamo. And it should be an absorbing struggle, as two of the teams in the East who’ve both enjoyed their moments in the sun this year, face off against each other, with one side, Chicago, slipping rather alarmingly from the form that catapulted them into the playoff mix, and the other, Houston, seeming to run out of steam as their season, front-loaded with road trips while their stadium was being finished, began to lose momentum with the addition of Champions league fixtures and a general uncertainty over what system worked best for them.

Both sides have rather limped over the line, though Houston at least got to retire from the race a little early, after New York’s victory over Philadelphia meant that no matter what they did at Colorado over the weekend, they were bound to finish fifth. Dominic Kinnear duly rested key players in advance of tonight’s game, and the Dynamo went down to a meaningless 2-0 defeat.

Chicago meanwhile, started the weekend in third and hosting second placed DC United, in what was in essence a pre-wild-card game, with high hopes of overtaking them on the last day. They took a lead, relinquished it, and then could not get past Bill Hamid in the DC net, to finish their regular season in fourth and this face tonight’s game.

So neither side is exactly enjoying a surge of momentum coming into this one, though on the plus side, the winner of tonight’s game will get a decent bounce going in to face Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference semi-final. I’m not going to be so foolish as to try to call it, but we have taken the liberty of preparing a complete playoff preview for your edification, and we have also canvassed the opinion of some of our regular game previewers for these teams, in a special wild-card edition of our fan previews.

Have a read of those, and using your new found knowledge of gut feelings in Illinois and Texas, send me your own thoughts on tonight’s game to @KidWeil or email graham.parker.freelance@guardiannews.com and I’ll be back shortly with more build up and team news.